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RICARDO ZAPATA PASSES HIS GODAN TEST AT THE COLOMBIA TAI KAI 2010

I recently just got back from Cartagena, Colombia doing a small Tai Kai for the IBDA group down there. What a wonderful place – the several hundred year old walled city across from the beach was like stepping back in time with the cobblestone streets, horse drawn carriages, window box flowered balconies, center- fountained plazas, old buildings with extra huge doors, outdoor festive restaurants, and music is everywhere. I really loved it.

The Tai Kai training was exciting also as I always love to share with people so hungry to learn. But what was even more exciting for me personally and the host of the event was the honor of being granted special permission from Soke Masaaki Hatsumi to administer the Godan test (also known as the Sakki test or Shidoshi test) on his behalf outside of Japan.

Giving this Godan test in front of Soke in Japan for me has been such a high spiritual experience every time I have been honored to do so. With it comes a high responsibility as well since often the test determines whether a student is eligible to become a fully licensed teacher of the Bujinkan arts, called a Shidoshi.

Shidoshi,a word coined by Soke Hatsumi, has been translated as a teacher of the warrior ways of enlightenment. To me, Ninjutsu (and Budo Taijutsu) is a path of awareness that leads to the perfection of one’s nature and life.

Becoming a teacher of this warrior path is an important step in the evolution of a Budo practitioner’s life. With it comes much responsibility and the unexpected lessons from students become the norm in time. You must be ready for anything, both in yourself and others. This is one of the reasons that I took many months of my life writing the comprehensive Shidoshi Teachers Training Course. One of our main goals at IBDA, besides helping students better their lives through Budo training, is to get them to a teacher level. In the Bujinkan, as of this writing, Godan tests are normally only done in Japan by a Bujinkan Jugodan in front of Soke Hatsumi.

So to be trusted with the opportunity to administer this test outside of Japan was a special experience for me. I thank my teacher, Soke Masaaki Hatsumi for making this opportunity possible so that my student would have the chance to fulfill his dream of being a Shidoshi.

The student taking this test, Ricardo Zapata Luna, was most deserving of this opportunity of becoming a Godan and a  Shidoshi. Ricardo is very dedicated to the budo and his suport of Ninjutsu/ Budo Taijustu and was a Yondan for many years, having students nearing his own grade. He comes from a poor country with limited funds and has a large family to support. In his country - family is everything and is much different than I witness in the United States. We can learn from them.

It would not be possible for Ricardo to go to Japan and progressing in the art was very important to him.  When speaking with Soke Hatsumi about this matter Soke understood his situation and granted me special permission to give this test on my own to Ricardo.

After taking this test myself some 25 years ago I have witnessed this test at least 1,000 times or more and have given it many times myself. I must say that it is still unique each time, and that each person has a special experience or lesson that is just for them.

Because this was an auspicious moment for me, Ricardo, and the honor of  the Bujinkan tradition, we set up a very special experience for this test. We created a special Kamiza table with Soke’s and Takamatsu’s picture on it and lit a big candle and burnt some incense. The test was given with a brand new pure white shinai (that was never used) that I wrapped a special multi-colored purple cloth around it and tied it with a gold cord. Then before the test I did a ceremony before the Kamiza with the Shinai.

We had a great training that day and I really felt that he would pass on the first attempt, but he was thinking way too much. A friend was very nervous for him and he hugged them just before the test. Their concern was still on his mind when he sat down. I felt this change in him right away. Once you have given the test a few times you can usually tell right away if the student will pass or not. As I suspected his nervous energy made him try to roll out when I had a brief thought about cutting down. I let him settle himself and then gave a strong cut that cleared his mind very fast with a loud smack on the top of the head. I must say that while his body did not get out of the way he had started to move naturally out of the way. But the timing was off for him.

Because of the circumstances and the distance I traveled I gave him a 2nd chance. Soke often does this in Japan as well. On this cut he was well out of the way, feeling that he was just moved and he didn’t really know why. Many times this is a sign of a great test. In taking this test you must trust that your teacher and the art will take care of you even if it seems that danger is at your door. While this is not the place to deeply write about the Godan test I would like to say that it is meant to reset ones humanity…. to give a transmission from the teacher to the student in such a way that lightens the student’s life path.

Lesson: Holding onto the thoughts, fears and actions of others can not only destroy you mentally but in a real battle it can kill you. To be a teacher you must learn to clear your mind and trust your inner nature to take care of you in all life situations.

Congratulations go out to Shidoshi Ricardo Zapata, his family and students. Roberto earned his Nidan and Sebastian and Jose earned their Shodans. Way to go guys!!

At the Colombia Tai Kai we studied the Master Principles of Budo Taijutsu, Meditation Skills and Ninpo Life philosophy. Of course we all went out to celebrate and have a party at a Rock-N-Roll bar. They make the world’s largest margaritas…. or did they just look so big after 3 of them? Got to love it!

Learn more in the next issue of Shinken Magazine due out early next month.

Many, Many heartfelt thanks goes to Zaira Zapata for her very hard work in making such a wonderful event happen. THANK YOU ZAIRA!

A great time was had by everyone. I loved my Cartagena visit and look forward to returning one day.

Live on Purpose,

Richard Van Donk, Shidoshi KenTora
www.Ninjutsu.com
www.BudoTaijutsu.com

Hi Friends,
I want to tell you about Soke Hatsumi’s new book – Unarmed Fighting Techniques of the Samurai.

It is a revolutionary book that is a must for every Bujinkan practitioner. Do not let the title fool you. It is all about the Bujinkan schools.

In this great book he reveals all the wazas of Gyokkyo Ryu, Shinden Fudo Ryu, Koto Ryu, Takagi Yoshin Ryu, and Kukishinden Ryu. He personally demonstrates the kamae and fist positions. He speaks of how to train and the true meaning of Budo Taijutsu. He has even drawn special body paintings with all the Kyusho (pressure points) targets on them and much, much more.

You are lucky to have such a book. When I started in the early 1980′s I had to learn this information the best I could technique by technique. And travel to Japan to get it. Right after class if I was not with Soke for awhile I would go the to coffee shop or bar and spend a few hours writing down all that I could remember from each dojo class. The next day or so I would go to the park and video myself doing the techniques. When I got back from Japan I would study all my notes and video writing down the questions to ask on my next trip which was usually at least every 6 months.

These notes became my manuals that students train with today. There where no video tapes of the wazas then. And most instructors spoke only Japanese.

Today you have a multitude of English speaking teachers, lots of videos and training manuals to help your training. I am sure there is value in learning it the way that I did. And it would have been nice to have what Soke has gifted the Bujinkan with this new book (They have them in stock at the Ninjutsu.com store – if they are out more are being shipped). He even put the original Japanese text in the back of the book for those who know Japanese.

You want this book and it is only $35 for a hard back book with some color photos and all the main wazas.

My thoughts on waza….
1. The waza is a window to look through – it is not the view itself. (My quote)
2. Learn the form and then all the shadows of the form.
3. Do not be fooled into thinking that the only way the waza is done is how it is written in this new (great) book or any other book.
4. Train for the feeling not the technique.
5. Look for what you are NOT seeing in the waza.
6. How can it be countered and destroyed?

Just some training thoughts… If you love this kind of stuff then check out our Ninja Vault where day by day it is growing into something really great. Soon lots of videos will be added.

All the best,

Richard Van Donk, Shidoshi